What is Hernia?
A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening in the body. Most hernias occur when a piece of intestine slips through a weakness in the abdominal wall, creating a bulge you can see and feel. Hernias can develop in the groin (inguinal hernia), around the navel (umbilical hernia), or any place where you may have had a surgical incision (ventral hernia). Some hernias are present at birth; others develop slowly over a period of months or years. Hernias can also come on quite suddenly.
Think of a hernia as a bulge in a tire. The outer wall of the tire is like your abdominal wall. The inner tube of the tire is like your intestines. Most of the time, the outer wall of the tire is strong enough to hold the inner tube, but if the wall weakens, a bulge may occur. This is just like the way a hernia may form in a weakness in the abdominal wall.
What is Inguinal/Femoral hernia?
An inguinal hernia occurs when soft tissue — usually part of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (omentum) or part of the intestine — protrudes through a weak point in the abdominal muscles. The resulting bulge can be painful, especially when you cough, bend over or lift a heavy object.
An inguinal hernia isn't necessarily dangerous by itself. It doesn't get better or go away on its own, however, and it can lead to life-threatening complications. For this reason, your doctor is likely to recommend surgery to fix an inguinal hernia that's painful or becoming larger. Inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure.
What is Ventral hernia?
When a ventral hernia occurs, it usually arises in the abdominal wall where a previous surgical incision was made. In this area the abdominal muscles have weakened; this results in a bulge or a tear. In the same way that an inner tube pushes through a damaged tire, the inner lining of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area of the abdominal wall to form a balloon-like sac. This can allow a loop of intestines or other abdominal contents to push into the sac. If the abdominal contents get stuck within the sac, they can become trapped or "incarcerated.” This could lead to potentially serious problems that might require emergency surgery.
Other sites that ventral hernias can develop are the belly button (umbilicus) or any other area of the abdominal wall.
A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself.
What is Incisional hernia?
INCISIONAL Hernias, also often referred to as Ventral Hernias, may occur in the area of any prior surgical incision. These hernias can vary in size from very small and uncomplicated, to very large and complex. Incisional hernias develop in up to 11% of abdominal surgical wounds. Incisional hernias most commonly develop as the result of:
- Disruption along or adjacent to the area of abdominal wall incision closure
- Tension, placed on the tissue as a result of suturing wound edges inadequately or under tension
- Other inhibitors to adequate healing (infection, poor nutrition, long smoking history, obesity, or metabolic diseases such as diabetes)
Incisional ( or Ventral) hernias present as a bulge, or protrusion, at or near the area of the prior surgical incision scar. Although most commonly occurring along mid-line incisions (those incisions centrally located between the breast bone and pubis), virtually any prior abdominal operation can subsequently develop an Incisional Hernia. These include those from large abdominal procedures (intestinal surgery, vascular surgery) to small incisions (Appendectomy, or even Laparoscopy). Again, incisional hernias can occur at any incision, but tend to be larger and more complex along prior mid-line incisions. Mid-line Incisional Hernias also have a higher rate of recurrence if repaired using a simple tissue-to-tissue or suture-only technique under tension (up to 44%). It is advised therefore, that these hernias be repaired initially using the far more effective TENSION FREE repair method using mesh so as to significantly reduce the risk of future re-occurrence of the hernia.
What is Epigastric hernia?
A hernia is a weakness in the tummy wall.
An epigastric hernia is a weak spot or gap above the tummy button. Sometimes the tummy wall is weak and there is only the skin covering the bowel and the other organs in the tummy. The area of the hernia gets swollen because organs within the tummy are pushing through the weak spot. It may get bigger or give pain.
It is possible that the some organs get trapped in the gap and cannot go back in the tummy. This can be very painful and very dangerous. Sometimes there is more than one hernia.